| Match Pictures | Matches: 2019 – 2020 | 2019-20 Pictures |
Trivia
- Weekend league match
- Celtic remain well clear ahead in the league race but Sevco have game in hand.
- Celtic closing in on 9 in a row, equalling domestic record.
‘After the Old Firm [sic!] game everyone killed us, everyone wanted us to fail. But we knew’ – Nir Bitton - Celtic remain on top by still 16pts ahead of Sevco (who have a game in hand). Sevco defeated Ross County by 1-0 next day.
- Celtic v Sevco next week.
- When you leave aside international and winter breaks, this coming midweek will be the first of the season in which Celtic don't have a game. We've played 15 games in 50 days since the winter break ended.
- Elhamed back in the side. Great to see Hatem Elhamed fit again, boy is a player, really struggled with fitness since he arrived at Celtic
- St Mirren today at Celtic Park protesting today’s ticket prices (£30).
- Leigh Griffiths is the hero scoring a hat-trick. After all he has gone thru this is brilliant.
- Neil Lennon has spoken about winger Daniel Arzani, hinting that the on-loan Manchester City youngster could feature for the Hoops first team before the season is out.
- Former Hamilton Accies midfielder Dougie Imrie was arrested on suspicion of match fixing, although reportedly he was le
- Rugby: Scotland defeat 14 man France. Ireland v Italy game off due to Corona Virus. Scotland's win is massive as France are the in form team, but France were down to 14 men due to a sending off in first half, but that's their problem, and Scotland deserving of the plaudits.
- Country going crazy due to coronavirus panic. Toilet roll & hand sanitizer run out.
- Celtic fans arranged a 8th minute applause of support for underfire Sevco manager Stevie Gerrard as a wind-up to Sevco fans who had a 8th minute applause for him as a show of support earlier in the week only for their side to lose 1-0 to Hamilton. Football banter!
- COVID-19: SPFL are prepared to award the title to Celtic if the Scottish football season is cancelled due to an outbreak of the coronavirus. Concerns are rising and sadly the death toll is rising to date, albeit still relatively low (but every death is still a tragedy, RIP). First cases have hit the UK.
- Australia assistant manager Rene Meulenstein believes Tom Rogic should look into finding a new club this summer unless he regains regular first-team football at Celtic.
- Celtic could sign long-term target Jordan Ibe on a free this summer after the winger was told his contract with Bournemouth wouldn’t be renewed
- Celtic’s supporter liaison officer has claimed the club are willing to renegotiate away supporter allocation with Sevco, but the Ibrox side aren’t interested.
- Livingston striker Lyndon Dykes is set to snub advances from Scotland as he’s expected to receive a call-up from his native Australia in the next Socceroos squad.
Post-Note
-
Celtic awarded league title
- Effectively this was the last league match of the season, and in May 2020, the practical decision was made to call in the season early, and so awarded the league title to Celtic who were 13pts ahead in the league title race and were on a roll. Similar had happened and was happening across other leagues in certain European countries.
- Still hope by the SFA to complete the Scottish Cup (three matches left), but postponed for moment; if Celtic won the Scottish Cup, it would be Quadruple Treble!
- Sealed league record equalling Nine in a Row!
Review
Leigh Griffiths was fantastic today, 1st hat trick in 4yrs, all different goals, sneaks in at the back post for first, drove at the defence, quick 1-2 & dinks it over the keeper for 2nd, 3rd one peels off at the edge of the box & puts it in the bottom corner, assisted Edouard too
Teams
Celtic
- 67Forster
- 6Bitton
- 2Jullien
- 35Ajer Substituted forElhamedat 81'minutes
- 49Forrest
- 8BrownBooked at 75mins
- 42McGregor
- 3Taylor
- 18Rogic Substituted forChristieat 73'minutes
- 22Edouard Substituted forElyounoussiat 76'minutes
- 9Griffiths
- 1Gordon
- 10Bayo
- 15Hayes
- 17Christie
- 27Elyounoussi
- 30Frimpong
- 33Elhamed
- Griffiths (18' minutes, 44' minutes, 74' minutes),
- Edouard (54' minutes),
- McGregor (90' minutes pen)
- 9Obika Substituted forChabbiat 69'minutes
- 19Morias
2Hodson
5McCarthy
16Foley
22Famewo
3Waters
10AndreuBooked at 75mins
24MacPherson
17McGrathBooked at 60mins Substituted forMcAllisterat 75'minutes
- 11Durmus
- 14McAllister
- 18Mullen
- 21Chabbi
- 26Lyness
- 28Jakubiak
- 29Wallace
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Home Team
Celtic
Away Team
St Mirren
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home19
Away8
Shots on Target
Home16
Away4
Corners
Home10
Away1
Fouls
Home9
Away5
Articles
Celtic 5-0 St Mirren: Leigh Griffiths hits hat-trick and announces ‘I was born for Ibrox’
On-form striker ready for derby with Rangers
By Andrew Smith
Saturday, 7th March 2020, 10:55 pm
Leigh Griffiths scores his hat-trick goal against St Mirren. Picture: Ross Parker/ SNS
Leigh Griffiths scores his hat-trick goal against St Mirren. Picture: Ross Parker/ SNS Copyright: 2020 SNS Group
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-5-0-st-mirren-leigh-griffiths-hits-hat-trick-and-announces-i-was-born-ibrox-2440723
A first hat-trick in four years for Leigh Griffiths provided another indication the Celtic striker is making a real fist at rediscovering his irrepressible best following his mental health and fitness issues of 2019. Yet the 29-year-old didn’t restrict such indicators to the 5-0 whipping of St Mirren that pushed the gap over Rangers, with two games in hand, to 16 points.
There was the impishness of old in how he dealt with his post-match media duties, especially when the subject turned to the club’s ancient adversaries and a trip to Ibrox next up for Neil Lennon’s men. It’s not simply that Griffiths is itching to play in that derby after a restorative two months when he has plundered goals – eight in all – and partnered Odsonne Edouard in Celtic’s revitalising 3-2 team reshaping. He presented it as some sort of destiny.
“I was born for Ibrox,” Griffiths said. “I’ve never been beaten there with Celtic. I have started there twice and scored twice with two victories. If the manager [right]starts me, or has me on the bench to go on and make an impact, I’ll be ready to go.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports
“I’m desperate to play in a game of that magnitude but what the starting 11 is, that’s up to the manager and the coaching staff. There will probably be another ten players itching to be on the bench so he’s got a difficult job.”
The forward says there is more to come from him “all day long” after his contribution at a canter against a St Mirren side devoid of the obduracy of their last visit – which manager Jim Goodwin confessed was not unrelated to picking a team with an eye on the critical relegation tussle with Hearts on Wednesday.
The interplay between Edouard – who netted his 28th of the season when he spun 180 degrees at the edge of the area before planting in the corner for the fourth early in the second period – and Griffiths would likely have done for the Paisley team whatever line-up they fielded.
The visitors were unfortunate that, for the first of what proved his fifth triple for Celtic, Griffiths appeared offside after ghosting in behind the St Mirren backline to tuck away a flighted-in ball from his French strike partner. An opener fashioned after only 18 minutes, Griffiths then created and finished a classy second on the stroke of half-time – his “favourite” of an afternoon that earned him a first hat-trick since he netted three times in an 8-1 win over Hamilton Accies in January 2016.
“I wanted to get the ball out of my feet and shoot, but the defender got back too quickly. I then managed to work a wee one-two with Tom [Rogic] and just clip the ball over the keeper which was a nice finish.”
Griffiths was matter of fact about his 74th minute third – “ was just what I normally do, get it out my feet and hit the target” – but when he opened his body, and lazered the ball into the corner from 20 yards, it was so vintage him, that it said everything about his recovery to a status that so many thought was permanently beyond him.
The further sheen for Celtic came with a fifth goal in stoppage time, an 89th league goal in a league campaign in which they have harvested 61 points from a possible 66: the result of Sam Foley’s penalty-box trip on substitute Hatem Abd Elhamed that allowed Callum McGregor his 13th goal of the season, from the spot.
Goodwin was philosophical about his team’s heaviest defeat of the season on an afternoon he elected to leave key performer Ilkay Durmus on the bench. “There was an element of picking a team today with a view to Wednesday night,” the St Mirren manager said. “We set up in a manner to give us the best chance of picking up something from the game. But I’d be lying if I said Wednesday night wasn’t more important.
“We go into every game trying to win it but we knew how difficult it would be here. Celtic have played 16 games here in the league and won 15, with Rangers the only team to beat them. They put four, five, six or seven past teams all the time at Parkhead and we’re on the receiving end of a sore one this afternoon. But these games against the Old Firm won’t define our season.”
Leigh Griffiths scored a hat-trick as Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points after easing aside St Mirren.
Griffiths scored twice in the first-half – from Odsonne Edouard's cross, then after a one-two with Tom Rogic. Edouard netted before Griffiths' third while Callum McGregor converted a late penalty as Celtic edged closer to a ninth consecutive title.
Neil Lennon's side – who have played two more games than Rangers – have won 12 of their 13 domestic games in 2020.
St Mirren, meanwhile, slip to 11th and are now just three points clear of bottom side Hearts.
Reaction & as it happened
No complacency, no surprises
Any chance of a shock St Mirren victory looked slim. It is 30 years since the Paisley side had last won in the east end of Glasgow – a young Paul Lambert putting the final goal past Pat Bonner in a 3-0 win.
In the here and now, Celtic were aiming to go 16 points clear at the top for 24 hours at least, with St Mirren looking for anything to ease their relegation fears.
Although history hung heavy against the visitors, Jim Goodwin's side began the match well as they sported a sturdy back three with the wing-backs getting St Mirren up the field.
But one of those wing-backs – Calum Waters – switched off for a second and allowed Griffiths to ghost in at the back post to finish calmly from close range to make it 1-0.
That dented the confidence of the away side as Celtic began to pepper the St Mirren goal, Vaclav Hladky having to pull off a series of fine saves to keep out Edouard, James Forrest and Rogic.
Tony Andreu managed a swerving shot from 20 yards which Fraser Forster comfortably saved, but any chance of a St Mirren revival evaporated on the stroke of half time.
A wonderful moment of interplay on the edge of the box between Rogic and Griffiths put the Scotland striker in and he dinked the ball past Hladky to make it 2-0.
Odsonne Edouard
Getting anything from this match would have been a bonus for St Mirren, their impending midweek encounter against Hearts of greater import in terms of how this season pans out.
As for Celtic, this was all about ensuring no complacency crept in with such a massive gap over Rangers at the top of the table and a meeting with their city rivals at Ibrox next weekend.
Griffiths rifled in another shot which Hladky touched wide, but it felt almost inevitable Celtic would score again.
Edouard's footwork had been impressive all afternoon, and he turned neatly in the box before firing home with ruthless efficiency as the game ceased to be any kind of contest.
There was icing on the cake for Celtic and Scotland as Griffiths lashed home from the edge of the box to seal a fine hat-trick – taking his tally for the season to 11.
McGregor fired home a late penalty as Celtic ran out very comfortable winners.
Man of the match – Leigh Griffiths
Griffiths could not be coming to the boil at a better time, with Celtic closing in on a ninth title in a row, a showdown with Rangers next weekend, and massive matches for Scotland now only weeks away.
He looks sharp and hungry again, and that wand of a left foot will always be with him. The best compliment you can pay him is that he is now starting to look like the Griffiths of old.
'I'm pleased for Leigh' – reaction
Five-goal win is 'fantastic' for Celtic – Lennon
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "Leigh's been working hard since the beginning of the year. I'm just pleased for him personally.
"And I'm delighted for Tom Rogic. We've been rotating him and Ryan Christie and he shows great intelligence and great feet."
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "We didn't really get close enough to Celtic, we didn't show enough aggression all over the park.
"Celtic are miles ahead of anyone in this league. It's quite scary really, they probably never got out of second gear this afternoon and still managed to put five past us so we've just got to take it on the chin."
Celtic: Leigh Griffiths hat-trick sends message to Steve Clarke – Neil Lennon
From the section Celtic
Leigh Griffiths scores Celtic's fourth goal in the 5-0 win over St Mirren
Leigh Griffiths scored a hat-trick as Celtic beat St Mirren 5-0
Leigh Griffiths has sent a message to Scotland manager Steve Clarke with his first hat-trick in four years, says Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
Celtic thrashed St Mirren 5-0 on Saturday, with Griffiths taking his goals tally for the season to 11.
The 29-year-old striker missed a large part of the season through personal problems and injury, but eight of those goals have come this year.
"He has answered all his critics," Lennon said.
"People were saying he is finished here and that was never the case."
Celtic 16 points clear after win over St Mirren
Griffiths 'ready to go' for Scotland
Griffiths has not played for Scotland since a 2-0 win over Albania in September 2018 but is keen to get back into head coach Clarke's squad for the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final with Israel on 26 March.
"It is down to Steve – he has been watching all the games I am sure," said Lennon. "If he hasn't seen Leigh today, that might be a message to him from the player himself.
"His timing is pretty good. If you need a goal and you have a player there, why not?
"We have worked with him and were patient, so he owes the club a lot and with performances like that he is starting to pay it."
Odsonne Edouard and Callum McGregor were also on the scoresheet as Celtic created a 16-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership, albeit having played two games more than second-placed Rangers.
However, Griffiths stole the headlines with his first treble since an 8-1 win over Hamilton Academical in January 2016.
"He is getting there, but there is more to come from him, no question of that, but definitely good signs," Lennon added.
"He can get fitter, stronger, more endurance into his game.
"He has come a long way and I think that hat-trick will mean a lot to him personally. It must give him a huge lift."
Full Time
Posted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Celtic 5, St. Mirren 0.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Hatem Elhamed (Celtic) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the right.
Goal!
Posted at 90'
Goal! Celtic 5, St. Mirren 0. Callum McGregor (Celtic) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Posted at 89'
Penalty Celtic. Hatem Elhamed draws a foul in the penalty area.
Posted at 89'
Penalty conceded by Sam Foley (St. Mirren) after a foul in the penalty area.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Cameron MacPherson (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Posted at 84'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tony Andreu.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Tony Andreu (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Posted at 81'
Substitution, Celtic. Hatem Elhamed replaces Kristoffer Ajer.
Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Posted at 81'
Hand ball by Akin Famewo (St. Mirren).
Posted at 80'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Akin Famewo.
Posted at 78'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Hodson.
Substitution
Posted at 76'
Substitution, Celtic. Mohamed Elyounoussi replaces Odsonne Edouard.
Booking
Posted at 75'
Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Posted at 75'
Tony Andreu (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 75'
Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Tony Andreu (St. Mirren).
Substitution
Posted at 75'
Substitution, St. Mirren. Kyle McAllister replaces Jamie McGrath.
Goal!
Posted at 74'
Goal! Celtic 4, St. Mirren 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Posted at 73'
Substitution, Celtic. Ryan Christie replaces Tomas Rogic.
Posted at 73'
Christopher Jullien (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Seifedin Chabbi (St. Mirren).
Posted at 72'
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
Posted at 72'
Sam Foley (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 71'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Posted at 69'
Substitution, St. Mirren. Seifedin Chabbi replaces Jonathan Obika.
Posted at 69'
Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Posted at 65'
Sam Foley (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).
Substitution
Posted at 63'
Substitution, St. Mirren. Alex Jakubiak replaces Junior Morias.
Posted at 63'
Attempt missed. Jonathan Obika (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Booking
Posted at 60'
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 60'
James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 60'
Foul by Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren).
Posted at 56'
Attempt saved. Tony Andreu (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!
Posted at 54'
Goal! Celtic 3, St. Mirren 0. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
Posted at 53'
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
Posted at 53'
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 51'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Václav Hladky.
Posted at 51'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 49'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Sam Foley.
Posted at 47'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Second Half
Posted at
Second Half begins Celtic 2, St. Mirren 0.
Half Time
Posted at 45'+1'
First Half ends, Celtic 2, St. Mirren 0.
Goal!
Posted at 44'
Goal! Celtic 2, St. Mirren 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tomas Rogic.
Posted at 40'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 40'
Calum Waters (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 37'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 34'
Attempt saved. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 32'
Attempt saved. Junior Morias (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 30'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Akin Famewo.
Posted at 30'
Attempt blocked. Jonathan Obika (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 27'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 24'
Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
Posted at 24'
Lee Hodson (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 24'
Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).
Posted at 24'
Conor McCarthy (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 22'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jonathan Obika.
Posted at 21'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Václav Hladky.
Posted at 21'
Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) header from very close range is saved in the top right corner.
Posted at 21'
Attempt saved. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Goal!
Posted at 18'
Goal! Celtic 1, St. Mirren 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Odsonne Edouard.
Posted at 15'
Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Posted at 14'
Attempt saved. Cameron MacPherson (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 14'
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 14'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 12'
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 12'
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
Posted at 10'
Attempt blocked. Junior Morias (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 8'
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Nir Bitton.
Posted at 7'
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
Posted at 7'
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 5'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Calum Waters.
Posted at 4'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Calum Waters.
Posted at 4'
Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Kick Off
Posted at
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.